| palliation(noun, action, reason, claim, approval) |
| penance(compensation, renewal, repentance, remorse, amends) |
| pretense(noun, dissuasion) |
| regrets(reason, trick, explanation, excuse, dodge) |
| support(noun, reason, approval, argument, explanation) |
| varnish(noun, vindication) |
| admission of guilt(noun, expression, idiom, excuse, regret) |
| advocacy(noun, reason, approval, argument, explanation) |
| apologetics(noun, return, argument, explanation, justification) |
| bitterness(noun, worry, concern, shame, disappointment) |
| blind |
| cause(noun, action, claim, statement, excuse) |
| contrition(noun, worry, concern, shame, disappointment) |
| cover(noun, cause, reason, trick, idea) |
| cover story(expression, reason, trick, explanation, excuse) |
| forgiveness(noun, vindication) |
| grief(noun, worry, concern, shame, anguish) |
| ground(noun, cover, cause, idea, case) |
| lame excuse(expression, idiom, dissuasion) |
| polemic |